BAD BOYS BAD BOYS!! Undercover Security

I was reading one of the threads and alot of people have stated that WDW has undercover security walking in the parks...I find that so cool. Just wanted people to share there experience with undercover security coming in to save the day

I was the original one that posted on the thread that I met what turned out to be an undercover security officer in line on his day off.

He had been trained as an undercover cop in the NYPD, so he had extensive experience in "blending in." When he did work, he said they dressed like tourists.

I had two experiences; one was a family shoving each other trying to get on the bus at DTD. You just turned around they were gone.

The second was just outside Germany at Epcot. A girl came out in a tinfoil hat, pretending to be working a video camera and a second girl wearing a silver space cap with flaps going on about how Disney takes over your brain and diminishes your capacity for creativity. Poof, they were gone. Either security got them, or the mother ship came back to pick them up - either way, they were gone in a split second.

I searched back to get my experience from my Trip Report back in 2008 when I went with some other DISers. Too lazy to retype the story.

This was at the Starring Rolls Cafe in MGM when we stopped to get some breakfast on our way to Toy Story. Leaving out the introductory details that won't make sense unless you read the report.

I was out first and got to try to find us a table. It was COLDin fact I heard on the news that Florida had a record cold that night. This is what happens to me, I go to Florida and they have a record cold spell. So I was looking for a table in the sun so we could have a bit of warmth. I found one but there was a backpack on one of the chairs. I asked the large group at the table next to me if it belonged to them. They said no, and it had been there a while with no one there. So I sat. Disney rules, you leave your stuff there for too long and no one is sitting then the table is up for grabs! A woman that looked like a supervisor/manager type (she wasn't wearing a funny costume!) walked by and I pointed out the chair with the backpack and told her it was there when we sat down and had lost it's owner. I was concerned that it would be stolen. Naturally I assumed that she would pick it up and take it in the back to be sent off to lost and found. I was dead wrong!

She took the entire chair and scooted it off about 30 yards away. Then she stood there in a guarding position and got on her walkie talkie. Security began showing up.

First one.

Then another.

And another.

Then 2 carrying ropes.

And we a few more around the perimeter of the area.

The ones with ropes roped off an area around the chair.

In the meantime a CM that was cleaning in the area came over to watch and to talk with us. He was also not in a funny costume and he told us he was a Trainer and was just helping out for a bit. He stayed with us chatting and watching what was going on. Also the large group at the table next to us took off. They were also interested in the action but said they had to move on. After they left a man came over and plopped himself at their now empty table. He seemed to be talking to himself but I figured he was on a bluetooth talking to his family telling them he got a table. He was also watching the security action. He leaned over to us and said  Hey, did that thing start over here or where it is now?. I figured he was just curious like we all were so of course I started telling him the story. He started talking into his coat again, but this time I heard 10-4 and affirmative and decided that he wasn't talking to his family!

We were all still talking and the Training CM said that they were going to bring out the dog. DOG??? We were really floored! I had even considered opening the backpack when we sat down to see if there was any ID in it. And here they were calling in a dog! Phors' son is with K9 in the military and had just lost his dog so this was certainly very interesting news to us. Phors said something about getting pictures of the dog to show her son. This is when the strange tourist next to us looked over and quietly said We would prefer you didn't mam We all looked at him and the CM said OH! I didn't ever recognize you sitting there! And he proceeded to introduce us to the Head of Studios Security ::cop: (undercover )! He was extremely nice but said that they try to bring the dog out, have him do his job and get him back without drawing a crowd. If people start taking photos then it draws a crowd and they may have to confiscate cameras and review the pics and get witness statements. We completely understood and had a nice chat while waiting for the dog. There was no way were leaving our seats until this was over!

When he got word on the radio the dog was on it's way out he walked by and told us that we could get pics but just stay in our seats and be discreet. We were able to get several good pictures. Because the Head of Security works undercover I have removed him from these pics to protect his identity.

Of course the dog came out, sniffed the bag, laid down and looked up as if to say You woke me up for that???

Quicker than it had happened, the dog and his handler disappeared backstage, the ropes were rolled up and one of the security guys picked up the bag and opened it and they all walked off. We never did find out if there was even anything in it!

We did learn that Disney has several full time K9 units and they do this for any abandoned bag. I would have thought that would have meant many times a day, it would seem that people would be constantly leaving things. But in reality security said it really doesn't happen all that often.

So the excitement was over. We had promised a good run it with security and it doesn't get much better than this! About 10 Security officers, the HEAD of security and a K9 Unit! As we walked off a few things did cross our minds:

Phors was thinking maybe that was just one of their Streetmosphere shows and wondered if we were supposed to applaud at the end!

And I was thinking that if they REALLY thought it could have been a bomb, shouldn't they have moved it a little further away, okay A LOT further away from us???

And when I told DH about it later he said he was so glad to see that we were smart enough to move ourselves out of danger when a bomb was suspected.

Tiramasu: $4.00
Fruit Tart: $4.00
Eclair: $4.00
Coffee: $3.00
Meeting the Head of Security and the K9 and NOT being arrested. . . Priceless!

I saw some outside the park in the lines FOR security. They're dressed just like a tourist. The only reason I noticed them was because they had a flesh colored coiled wire coming out of the back of their shirt, up their neck into their ear. Then I saw him talk to the non undercover security people lol.

Once we witnessed a lady take a NASTY fall using a baby carrier. I mean ther was blood all over and the woman couldn't pick up her crying infant, it was THAt bad! I strongly suggest folks avoid using those at WDW. Also, I just read that some slings may cause even worse problems for young babies.

That said, Disney help was amazing. Thy had the mother/child out in what seemed like seconds. They also had the area cleaned up just about as quickly.

We also once saw a dad who was frantic over a missing child. Dad really just was not very coherent. The staff did an excellent job of locating his child. Suffice it so say there are some basic precautions every parent should take, and this dad had not prepped for this type of situation. When he lost sight of the child, he lost it. He became incapable of acting rationally. They handled him very well. The child was found and all ended well.

We did learn that Disney has several full time K9 units and they do this for any abandoned bag. I would have thought that would have meant many times a day, it would seem that people would be constantly leaving things. But in reality security said it really doesn't happen all that often.

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I'm surprised, too. We managed to lose a back pack a day our two days at Sea World. I guess we're just more talented than average.

Was in the shops on Main Street and saw someone stuffing clothing in a big bag at back of store. Thought hey this is one of the many reason this stuff is so expensive and I told a cashier. We watched. No one else in the store even knew the person was being taken out of there for shoplifting. Tourist looking guys approached and escorted them out very ordinarily and behind the gated area at hat shop. Amazing... I swear not another guest in the store or street area was aware of what was going on. Smooth!!!

We did learn that Disney has several full time K9 units and they do this for any abandoned bag.

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Yep, I've seen it, too! At MK, though with fewer CM/Security folks invoved. They quietly cleared the area around a backpack in Frontierland and brought out the dog... who sniffed and sniffed and tried and tried, but could not find anything for which he'd been trained to find. He looked sad, lol! Once he'd done his thing, though, his handler walked him away from the site and gave him a good head scratch, which seemed to perk him up. A store CM took the bag inside and that was it.

When we were at the Food and Wine Festival a couple years ago, a fellow park guest had been enjoying the wine part of the festival a little more than he should have. He was strolling around World Showcase "entertaining" folks with colorful bits of wisdom when a couple of gentlemen dressed in matching dark slacks and polos appeared on either side of him, took him by the arms (without missing a beat, I might add), and proceeded to escort him from the area. Something tells me they weren't giving him the VIP tour or making sure he didn't miss his fastpass window.

Once we witnessed a lady take a NASTY fall using a baby carrier. I mean ther was blood all over and the woman couldn't pick up her crying infant, it was THAt bad! I strongly suggest folks avoid using those at WDW. Also, I just read that some slings may cause even worse problems for young babies.

That said, Disney help was amazing. Thy had the mother/child out in what seemed like seconds. They also had the area cleaned up just about as quickly.

We also once saw a dad who was frantic over a missing child. Dad really just was not very coherent. The staff did an excellent job of locating his child. Suffice it so say there are some basic precautions every parent should take, and this dad had not prepped for this type of situation. When he lost sight of the child, he lost it. He became incapable of acting rationally. They handled him very well. The child was found and all ended well.

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That first story made my stomach turn. I hope both Mom and baby were ok. I did use a front carrier some at WDW, but both my kids are good stroller riders overall, so I didn't have to use it much.

We saw a similar incident to a previous poster's except it involved a backpack left on the path near Pop Century's bowling pin pool. Security used a few lounge chairs to block the bag off. It was funny, there was a guy in tie calmly chatting people up as they walked by, acting as if he wasn't standing near a lonely backpack surrounding by three lounge chairs. They also had someone walking around making small talk with the 15 or so guests in the pool area.

For having their bomb squad out, the whole thing came and went very quietly and calmly. They sure know what they are doing.

A zillion years ago, like 14, our DS was about 10 and we were in ECPOT really, really early. Not another guest in site(it was amazing!) and he wanted to go off by his self. NO WAY! said I, and we got into an arguement...I saw a CM in Security uniform, and he came over and we told him what was going on and that I was concerned about a young kid alone at the park. He asked how responsible DS was, and stuff and ended up telling us to look around. By that time there were a dozen or so people in the area.. this was between the East and West Int. in front of the dancing fountion, near Mouse Gears.. so we did and he pointed out several uncover CMs... and assured us DS would be fine! So we told DS ok, but meet us back at that point at a set time, or he was glued to us for LIFE! Off he went, and we were the late ones back!!
The security guy had noticed how we were all argueing with our son and had come close to check everthing was ok. We weren't even loud, or making hand motions, just hands on hips, mom style head shaking and finger shaking NO! so that is how empty it was, and how good they are... he also pointed out they have security cameras every where! That I can tell you is the truth, DH works with security systems for Military Bases/ eye fingerprint tech stuff and he and my DB are allways saying, LOOK! WDW has Symco pds 1893s cameras up there, or what ever they are!

Prior to Sept 11th I have only seen ONE, yes ONE, security officer in WDW. It was at MK where he popped out of a door and then went in another. No more than 10-15 seconds before he was out of sight.

I have spent a fair amount of time at WDW and seeing the guard was a shock. You just never saw them.

Since Sept 11th I have seen the guys in plain clothes with the ear pieces. They may have been there before I just never noticed them.

You know at EPCOT especially at F&W there are going to be people who get into trouble because of booze.

I was waiting in line for the Sam Adams beer tasting/testing class last October and two guys in front of me were returning to take the class again. You do not get much beer in the class but these guys did not need anymore. They had full beer mugs and one of the CM's walked by and accidently bumped one of the guys arms and which spilled some beer. The guys started trash talking to the CM. The CMs looked like they were all grandpas. So talking trash to grandpa was not going over well with the people in line. The CM did the best he could do to apologize and just moved off. I thought security would show up and remove them from the park. I think everyone in the line wanted them removed. The two men had been talking football before the bump incident, they were Browns fans, so people started talking trash about the Browns.

These guys waited until the beer was served in the class, downed it, and left real quick. Class acts there were. There might have been $1 worth of beer even at Disney prices.

A few years ago we were on the resort monorail. Tourist looking fellow (shorts, loud tee, dark glasses & longish hair). Suddenly pulled out a phone/two way radio and I saw the flesh colored wire coming out the back of his shirt up to his ear. He said something to the effect to just watch the individual, he was one stop away and dispatch had already called the Orange County Sheriff to meet them there. He got off in a hurry at the GF.

Second time was last year. Again a tourist/teen looking fellow, backwards ball cap, back back, dark glasses was leaning against a railing by the boat ramp at Hollywood Studios. A uniformed guard came walking by, did a U turn and walked up and asked what he was doing there as he thought it was his day off. The undercover said no, he got called in and was working plain clothes outside the park for the day.

dh saw a k9 search going on a few weeks back in tomorrowland...or should i say he was in line with the kids for buzz's autograph and the team walked by. i never saw a thing and we never heard more of it. also about a week later we saw a dude walking down pixar place with a dog on a leash...i presume a k9? i dont think dogs are just allowed in the parks. and this wasnt a service dog. the kids of course went oh dog! ds is all about petting dogs for some strange reason, even when in the car and theyre out side walking. so i said no sorry doggies working rite now....i think...lol

Hats off to all those that blend right in and let us leave some of those worries behind! Yes, I stay pretty security conscience on vacation but I have never spotted them. As a mom of 2 I really appreciate that! Thanks again to you know who you are- You make our trip magical!!!